66-1 July Cup shock puts Neil Callan back at the top table and leaves trainer Richard Hughes in tears
We are used to super powers such as Godolphin and Coolmore dominating midsummer Group One events but, every so often, you get a result like the one No Half Measures provided in the July Cup.
Sent off at 66-1, there weren't many cheers as she crossed the line to become the biggest priced winner of a race first run in 1876, but this was a superb story.
For Neil Callan, the jockey who was wide-eyed in astonishment, it was an unexpected return to the top table. The 47-year-old had only partnered four winners since May 24 and his four rides at Royal Ascot last month were on horses priced 125-1, 100-1, 80-1 and 50-1 — two finished stone last.
As for Richard Hughes, it was an overdue first Group One triumph as a trainer. He was once a brilliant jockey but, more than anything, he is a brilliant horseman and getting this mare, who cost £32,000, to win £372,584, emphasised his skills.
No Half Measures has been consistent for owner Richard Gallagher, but had never given an indication she would blossom in such style.
In these sprints, however, there is no such thing as a hopeless task and this time the cards fell perfectly for the four-year-old. 'Neil is tough as hell and very professional,' said Hughes. 'I think the last ride I gave him was when he won the Northumberland Plate for me (in 2023)!
'I was playing golf with Mick Fitzgerald, and said to him, 'Who am I going to get?' and he said, 'What about Callan?'. I said, 'Perfect!''
It was better than perfect. Callan (below) has had his skirmishes with authorities down the years but he knows how to ride and he timed everything to perfection, holding off the challenge of Big Mojo (22-1) and Run To Freedom (40-1). Notable Speech, the 2-1 favourite, never looked like playing a hand in the finish.
'The last couple of years, I thought I was a bit buried,' said Callan. 'I had a couple of big Group One winners at Royal Ascot in 2023 but last year and this has been a struggle. You are just waiting for that one good horse.
'Hughesy messaged me a few days ago and I actually thought he had messaged the wrong person!
'He said to me, 'Do you want to ride in a Group One?' and I just said to him, 'Absolutely! I'd love to'. Richard told me she would be 50-1 or 66-1 but that she was genuine and she would run her race.
'I felt she was running her race all the way and then I hit the front. Wow! It all felt surreal. You just can't beat Group Ones. They are just top, top!'
You could see what it meant to Hughes, too. 'It's a hard game,' he said, as he began to well up.
'I wasn't Champion Jockey overnight and these things take time. There were a lot of dark days when I started and it was only thanks to my wife Lizzie's support that we kept going. This is just brilliant.'
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